Paul, I'm thinking it's going to be about the same size as last year. I've sent out over a dozen address emails to new people, then add in people like you and Tom and others who already know the address. Then add in a handful of neighbors, and a couple of my gardening friends that aren't online. And last year, some people carpooled so that means a few more than I sent emails. So I'm thinking it will be a decent crowd again. Tom, I'll earmark the orchid pots for you. I'm guessing just 3-5 of the bowls will work. I'm not sure what I'm putting in them yet, I'm just sick of the pets breaking things so want to move to plastic. Tina, thanks for the lemon grass! See you all soon!

Sounds good, but isn't Gainesville a zone 9. I have been looking for some new Heliconia's, espically a Rostrata. Gainesville sounds like a good day trip some Saturday. Let me know what is good for you. I have neo Galatic Warrior and other bromeiliads to trade. Sue Rhoads Susieq5001@earthlink.net

Terrific! I just love it when trades work out and its something I really want for something other person has been lusting for! I bought the Lady Slipper at the Sanford Tropical and Bromeliad society's sale this summer. The seller did not have a botanical name. It has little dangly ovals on the end of each branch (the slippers I guess). I will need to root some for you - any special instructions for crotons or are they just like everything else - put a cutting with some rootone on it in a pot and keep it moist? As a side note I am a recent transplant from Virginia and it does not cease to amaze me how easy things are to root here in this hot wet greenhouse of an environment we have here in summer! Anita

I haven't commented on the swap yet because I've been assuming that I'll have to work on Saturday but it appears as though there is some hope that I'll get the day off now. I started a couple cuttings each of a number of plants when this was first discussed. I've also picked up a couple more plants for swap along the way. I'm always willing to dig up extras or take cuttings of just about anything in my yard if I get requests. Plants in Pots: A couple of each of three firespikes Salvia purpurea 'Lavender Lace' Pineapple Sage - Salvia elegans Mexican Bush Sage - Salvia leucantha Bat-faced Cuphea - Cuphes llava - two varieties Cigar flower - Cuphea ignea 'David verity' Schuman's Cuphea - Cuphea schumanii Coral honeysuckle - Lonicera sempervirens Cape Honeysuckle - Tecomaria capensis Mexican Flame Vine Trumpet Vine - Campsis Radicans Mexican Oregano Indian Curry Tree seedlings Flowering Maple - Abutilon pictum I can also dig up many young/small plants including: a red and yellow heliconia Belize sage - Salvia miniata Red or Pink Salvia coccineas Fire Cracker Flowers (Russelia equisitiformis and sarmentosas) Various shrimp plants Lavender Scallops - kalenchoes Chinese Hat I can also bring cuttings of any of the previously mentioned plants. I've got plenty of seeds from the Salvia coccineas as well from cypress vine and coral bean (Erythrina herbacea). I'm looking for: heliconias Angelwing begonias Golden Shrimp Plant bromiliads gingers sages and salvias butterfly nectaring flowers anything tropical looking, preferably winter-blooming, and not too large (?) Steve (Rowdy) in Valrico